[Alvin]

Top Ten Oddest Auto Accessories…Ever: From JC Whitney Vault



Top Ten Oddest Auto Accessories…Ever: From JC Whitney Vault

JC Whitney searches the catalog archives to celebrate 100 years and finds some of the most creative, unusual and just plain strange items that were once for sale– from Winky blinkers and fuzzy car muffs to in-car coffee-makers and record players.

LASALLE, Ill. – February 25, 2015 – JC Whitney, the company with one of the most comprehensive selections of auto parts and accessories in the world, has built its business by offering “everything automotive” to DIYers, enthusiasts and folks just looking to personalize their rides with a little flair. As a result, for 100 years the company has collected a treasure trove of strange and colorful items for sale, thanks to its famous JC Whitney Catalogs.

“As we celebrate our centennial anniversary, it’s only natural to look back at some of the classics found in our catalog,” said JC Whitney President Shane Evangelist. “We found more than a few crazy accessories from the past, especially around the 1960s turn signal stuffed animals and record players, things that make you shake your head and laugh. But we also found a few hidden gems that were ahead of their time, precursors to today’s in-car gizmos.”

By combing through past catalogs of the 1950s and 1960s and speaking with auto enthusiasts, the staff at JC Whitney came up with the following ten creative, unusual and just plain bizarre items that were once for sale:

1. Door Re Me Door Chime

A music box that plays a song melody when the car door opened, this accessory offered an easy way to class up your ride…and surprise that special someone. Available in four different versions, including “Ave Maria,” “Let Me call you Sweetheart,” the “Anniversary Waltz” and “I Love You Truly.” One wonders: would a modern day version of the Do Re Me Chime include “Shake it Up?” Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $4.98 per selection.

2. Fuzzy Car Muffs

Because cold weather makes people loopy enough to put fuzzy warmers on their cars. What was promoted as a “countrywide rage” featured wrapped fuzzy white fur over mirrors, horn rings, visors and car club plaques. It’s like driving a polar bear! Today’s Boston version would undoubtedly include a snow shovel. Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $0.79 – $1.50.

3. Dashboard Record Player

Was this an early version of the aux port? The integrated mp3? No. But it was an interesting idea: hook up a portable record player to the car radio. It played 45s with the claim that it “Performs smoothly even over rough roads, rough curves, even during fast starting and stopping.” There were also full-size record players available for travel trailers during the 40s and 50s.Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $59.95.

4. Actual Race Recordings/Sports Car Recordings

Want classic? The precursor to audiobooks? How about a spoken word biography of Carroll Shelby, or Sir Sterling Moss. You could get it in the JC Whitney catalog and, of course, play them on your on-dash record player. Recordings of famous races at Le Mans, Monaco or Silverstone were included.Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $5.00 – $5.95.

5. Automotive Radio Phone & Accessories

Once again demonstrating that JC Whitney was on the cutting edge of in-car electronics and accessories. Well before the cellular revolution arrived, it took specialized equipment to turn your car, truck or boat into a low-power radio station to conduct business and stay in touch with family. Here was everything you needed, including the transmitter/receiver and antenna to give you a range of up to 10 miles. Unintended benefits included looking like a business mogul or law enforcement officer to passers-by. Vintage sale price in the 1960s for multiple components from $0.65 to $169.00.

6. Gyroscopic Stabilizers

Anything that has the word “Gyroscope” in the title is sure to get car fanatics dreaming about the scientific possibilities of whizzing widgets. The stabilizers claimed to increase tire life, automatically balance wheels, iron out bumps, improve handling and do your laundry. Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $19.95 (set of two).

7. Foot Operated Radio Selection Switch

Serious drivers want to know: Why move your hands from the wheel to tune the radio, when you can do it with the tap of your foot? And what’s the difference between this and today’s advanced head’s up display telematics? Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $2.95.

8. Deluxe Left Foot Accelerator

Give the right foot a rest from all that tiring movement! Ad copy boasted benefits like “Rest the right foot” and “easily install on any make or model car…with or without a clutch.” A popular modification for drummers who wanted to practice their footwork while driving. Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $3.98.

9. In the Car Coffee Maker Kit

A brilliant product that never made it to the big time, this idea came around long before Starbucks® was on every corner: this kit served 4 cups of coffee. For the price of a few tall lattes you received all of the items to percolate, pour and organize your cream and sugar…all while securing the coffee maker while you rushed to work. The perfect accessory for cup holders! Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $17.00.

10. Winky and Friends

Whatever happened to Duchess and Mac? Just like a musical super group, these plush characters enjoyed some success in the JC Whitney catalog until Duchess and Mac left to pursue solo careers in the automotive turn signal and brake light industry. A reunion has been discussed. Winky was sold in the catalog until around 1987. Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $6.95 each.

What do you remember from the catalogs? Visit JC Whitney’s special centennial site and share your best memories.

About JC Whitney

Established in 1915, JC Whitney is the largest direct marketer of name-brand automotive parts and accessories, providing “everything automotive” with more than 6 million automotive applications from the latest model year back to the 1920s, and over 1.2 million parts for over 25 million different vehicles. Backed by 100 years of hands-on, expert customer service, JC Whitney offers products for virtually any vehicle — automobiles, trucks, jeeps, modern muscle, motorcycles, and more — through its comprehensive family of general and vehicle-specific catalogs and www.jcwhitney.com. The company is dedicated providing customers the parts they need at the most competitive prices, along with the highest levels of customer service, fast and low cost shipping and convenient returns.

Contact: For a list of scheduled media events, to share your JC Whitney memories and to set up interviews contact:

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, Melanie@mwebbcom.com (424) 603-4340
Elizabeth Johnson, mWEBB Communications, Elizabeth@mwebbcom.com (213) 713-4865

[RocktimusPryme]

I would think the eyelashes girls like to put on modern VW beetle headlights would be up there.

[Simple Man]

They forgot "Instant Engine overhaul " pellets.

http://www.thejunkmanadv.com/the-jun...hanic-in-a-can

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Simple Man

They forgot "Instant Engine overhaul " pellets.

http://www.thejunkmanadv.com/the-jun...hanic-in-a-can

I remember those too! HaHa! Thx and excellent link BTW

[mechanickeith]

I still have some of their old catalogs before they were called JC Whitney!!

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by mechanickeith

I still have some of their old catalogs before they were called JC Whitney!!

They started out at Warshawsky Company. For a number of years, they sold under both the Warshawsky and J.C. Whitney names and you could get a catalog with either name on it.

Besides Winky the Cat, I was always a fan of the pipe organ speakers.

[Simple Man]

Love the pipe organ speakers..........

[Jerry H.]

I bought quite a bit of stuff from J.C. Whitney for my restorations before the internet came about. They were good for generic stuff that was hard to find locally.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by mechanickeith

I still have some of their old catalogs before they were called JC Whitney!!

Originally Posted by Stuart

They started out at Warshawsky Company. For a number of years, they sold under both the Warshawsky and J.C. Whitney names and you could get a catalog with either name on it.

Besides Winky the Cat, I was always a fan of the pipe organ speakers.

Originally Posted by Simple Man

Love the pipe organ speakers..........

Wow! "A whole awesome '10 watts' of power speakers?" "Jenson Tri-Axials" Not! but those pipes looked cooool!

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Jerry H.

I bought quite a bit of stuff from J.C. Whitney for my restorations before the internet came about. They were good for generic stuff that was hard to find locally.

I remember my Dad - around '69 - '70 - buying some chrome slot wheels from JC for the '62 Catalina B/MP to be used as "extra" tow wheels...had to send them back couple of times due to bad welds...wouldn't hold air IIRC...other stuff - not so bad?

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Jerry H.

I bought quite a bit of stuff from J.C. Whitney for my restorations before the internet came about. They were good for generic stuff that was hard to find locally.

When I restored my '61 Bonneville convertible I bought the replacement top from J.C. Whitney. It was actually very good quality. Like any other parts house they sold plenty of name brand stuff, along with all the kitsch.

[John V.]

I started getting the JC Whitney catalog in NJ about the time I started driving in the early '70s. No idea how I go on their mailing list, but I quickly became a customer. I still have a receipt for the tune up parts I bought when I got my first '64 GTO convert, including the Fire Injector spark plugs. IIRC, they had a lifetime warranty. Wish I still had the GTO.

I learned of the Warshawsky name when I came to Chicago a few years later, that was the name on their store and some local must have explained the connection to me, I believe on S. State St.?

Can't recall ever going in the store, but in the mid '70's Superfly was all the rage and you would always see some Eldorado or Deuce and a Quarter parked out front of the store, the owner installing the latest headlight accessories or chrome trim to personalize his ride right there on the street. Always drew laughs from my crowd.

I don't remember much about the trinkets, I always looked thru the catalog for the "serious" stuff (yeah, like those spark plugs).

I do recall those miracle overhaul pellets. Never bought but I'm sure I was tempted.

Wish I had kept a few catalogs from the early '70s. Would be a nostalgic read I'm sure.

I give them credit for having some fun with their past.

[Simple Man]

I was in their store once, probably mid 80's. It was on State Street, had the old wooden floors, the glass cases, really a step back in time. The owner had a collection of high dollar Lincolns from the 30's and 40's.

[fiedlerh]

I was in their store once, probably mid 80's. It was on State Street, had the old wooden floors, the glass cases, really a step back in time. The owner had a collection of high dollar Lincolns from the 30's and 40's.

Yup. Used to go there in the 70's. Old man Warshawsky used to lord over the place and check all transactions. My bro wrote a check for parts and old man Warchawsky himself grabbed his checkbook and said said no because there was not enough to cover it. My brother intended to deposit funds the next day, but that wasn't good enough for the old man.

[Stuart]

I always wondered what kinds of old stock parts were sitting on the dusty back shelves of that place when they finally moved out of Chicago.

[fiedlerh]

In the 70's they had about any mechanical parts you needed going back to the 1930's. They were also big into VW bug parts.

[NeighborsComplaint]

Originally Posted by Stuart

I always wondered what kinds of old stock parts were sitting on the dusty back shelves of that place when they finally moved out of Chicago.

As a kids, we would go the Warshawsky for our parts. We would go on Saturday morning driving in from the burbs and it was a really busy place. You took a number and waited for at least half an hour in line. The clerks were just nasty and it was a mob scene in those days. Their slogan was "Everything Automotive" and they literally had everything. At that time, Warshawsky was the retail store and J.C Whitney was "mail order".

They had a clearance sale at a nearby warehouse after they moved to Lasalle. I went there to see what could be had. Biggest collection of car junk you ever saw. It looked like a swap meet of parts dumped in tote bins and piled on tables. I bought a pair of glasspacks for $10.00. I remember the brand was ScatCat and they were yellow and looked like 2 big bananas. So fugly I had to paint them before I put them on. They sounded like ass and made a whoop or whistle sound when you hit the gas so I pitched them.

[61 389-348]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Top Ten Oddest Auto Accessories…Ever: From JC Whitney Vault



Top Ten Oddest Auto Accessories…Ever: From JC Whitney Vault

JC Whitney searches the catalog archives to celebrate 100 years and finds some of the most creative, unusual and just plain strange items that were once for sale– from Winky blinkers and fuzzy car muffs to in-car coffee-makers and record players.

LASALLE, Ill. – February 25, 2015 – JC Whitney, the company with one of the most comprehensive selections of auto parts and accessories in the world, has built its business by offering “everything automotive” to DIYers, enthusiasts and folks just looking to personalize their rides with a little flair. As a result, for 100 years the company has collected a treasure trove of strange and colorful items for sale, thanks to its famous JC Whitney Catalogs.

“As we celebrate our centennial anniversary, it’s only natural to look back at some of the classics found in our catalog,” said JC Whitney President Shane Evangelist. “We found more than a few crazy accessories from the past, especially around the 1960s turn signal stuffed animals and record players, things that make you shake your head and laugh. But we also found a few hidden gems that were ahead of their time, precursors to today’s in-car gizmos.”

By combing through past catalogs of the 1950s and 1960s and speaking with auto enthusiasts, the staff at JC Whitney came up with the following ten creative, unusual and just plain bizarre items that were once for sale:

1. Door Re Me Door Chime

A music box that plays a song melody when the car door opened, this accessory offered an easy way to class up your ride…and surprise that special someone. Available in four different versions, including “Ave Maria,” “Let Me call you Sweetheart,” the “Anniversary Waltz” and “I Love You Truly.” One wonders: would a modern day version of the Do Re Me Chime include “Shake it Up?” Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $4.98 per selection.

2. Fuzzy Car Muffs

Because cold weather makes people loopy enough to put fuzzy warmers on their cars. What was promoted as a “countrywide rage” featured wrapped fuzzy white fur over mirrors, horn rings, visors and car club plaques. It’s like driving a polar bear! Today’s Boston version would undoubtedly include a snow shovel. Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $0.79 – $1.50.

3. Dashboard Record Player

Was this an early version of the aux port? The integrated mp3? No. But it was an interesting idea: hook up a portable record player to the car radio. It played 45s with the claim that it “Performs smoothly even over rough roads, rough curves, even during fast starting and stopping.” There were also full-size record players available for travel trailers during the 40s and 50s.Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $59.95.

4. Actual Race Recordings/Sports Car Recordings

Want classic? The precursor to audiobooks? How about a spoken word biography of Carroll Shelby, or Sir Sterling Moss. You could get it in the JC Whitney catalog and, of course, play them on your on-dash record player. Recordings of famous races at Le Mans, Monaco or Silverstone were included.Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $5.00 – $5.95.

5. Automotive Radio Phone & Accessories

Once again demonstrating that JC Whitney was on the cutting edge of in-car electronics and accessories. Well before the cellular revolution arrived, it took specialized equipment to turn your car, truck or boat into a low-power radio station to conduct business and stay in touch with family. Here was everything you needed, including the transmitter/receiver and antenna to give you a range of up to 10 miles. Unintended benefits included looking like a business mogul or law enforcement officer to passers-by. Vintage sale price in the 1960s for multiple components from $0.65 to $169.00.

6. Gyroscopic Stabilizers

Anything that has the word “Gyroscope” in the title is sure to get car fanatics dreaming about the scientific possibilities of whizzing widgets. The stabilizers claimed to increase tire life, automatically balance wheels, iron out bumps, improve handling and do your laundry. Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $19.95 (set of two).

7. Foot Operated Radio Selection Switch

Serious drivers want to know: Why move your hands from the wheel to tune the radio, when you can do it with the tap of your foot? And what’s the difference between this and today’s advanced head’s up display telematics? Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $2.95.

8. Deluxe Left Foot Accelerator

Give the right foot a rest from all that tiring movement! Ad copy boasted benefits like “Rest the right foot” and “easily install on any make or model car…with or without a clutch.” A popular modification for drummers who wanted to practice their footwork while driving. Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $3.98.

9. In the Car Coffee Maker Kit

A brilliant product that never made it to the big time, this idea came around long before Starbucks® was on every corner: this kit served 4 cups of coffee. For the price of a few tall lattes you received all of the items to percolate, pour and organize your cream and sugar…all while securing the coffee maker while you rushed to work. The perfect accessory for cup holders! Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $17.00.

10. Winky and Friends

Whatever happened to Duchess and Mac? Just like a musical super group, these plush characters enjoyed some success in the JC Whitney catalog until Duchess and Mac left to pursue solo careers in the automotive turn signal and brake light industry. A reunion has been discussed. Winky was sold in the catalog until around 1987. Vintage sale price in the 1960s: $6.95 each.

What do you remember from the catalogs? Visit JC Whitney’s special centennial site and share your best memories.

About JC Whitney

Established in 1915, JC Whitney is the largest direct marketer of name-brand automotive parts and accessories, providing “everything automotive” with more than 6 million automotive applications from the latest model year back to the 1920s, and over 1.2 million parts for over 25 million different vehicles. Backed by 100 years of hands-on, expert customer service, JC Whitney offers products for virtually any vehicle — automobiles, trucks, jeeps, modern muscle, motorcycles, and more — through its comprehensive family of general and vehicle-specific catalogs and www.jcwhitney.com. The company is dedicated providing customers the parts they need at the most competitive prices, along with the highest levels of customer service, fast and low cost shipping and convenient returns.

Contact: For a list of scheduled media events, to share your JC Whitney memories and to set up interviews contact:

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, Melanie@mwebbcom.com (424) 603-4340
Elizabeth Johnson, mWEBB Communications, Elizabeth@mwebbcom.com (213) 713-4865

Speaking of "Winky and Friends" I'm surprised this didn't make the list

http://www.sneakyleaker.com/

Talk about useful !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Simple Man]

Originally Posted by fiedlerh

In the 70's they had about any mechanical parts you needed going back to the 1930's. They were also big into VW bug parts.

I bought a complete wiring harness for a 49 Studebaker half ton from them in the late 80's. In stock, on the shelf.

[400 4spd.]

In the early 70's some of my Stude parts came from the catalog. I think I got brake and clutch parts from them.